6 easy steps to become an entrepreneur

We have to stop believing entrepreneurship is this magical, elusive skill or personality trait that only a few people possess. We need to get it into a digestible process that people can learn like any other skill, regardless of their background, ethnicity or religion.

All you need is some basic business know-how and an entrepreneurial mentality, both of which can, in fact, be taught!

1)      Evaluate your business skills and build “the team”

The best way to begin your journey as an entrepreneur is to assess your skills, stage of life and whether there’s a good opportunity in the market for your project. An innovative idea may inspire a new business, but it takes brilliant people to make that business a success. Finding the skill sets and attitudes that support the culture of the brand you want to promote will foster innovation and enhance your reputation.

2)      Seek out a mentor

Mentorship is everything in business. Startup entrepreneurs need people who are interested in their success — to guide you through the early stages of your startup and provide valuable feedback and support on your business strategies and issues.

A good mentor is the best insurance policy to protect your investment as well as your mental health. Sometimes, simply being reassured from someone who has already been there can be the difference between a breakdown and a learning opportunity. And that's a big difference!

3)      Learn to listen

Go out and talk to your customers. Don't sell, but listen and learn about their problems in the specific domain that you're addressing. Customers are not embracing your idea because it's new, but because of the value, noting that as an entrepreneur, you need to figure out how to persuade others of that value.

4)      Create good habits

Perception is crucial in order to learn to perceive more opportunities by connecting seemingly different things. Consider those opportunities and not automatically dismissing them!

Realize the possibilities in order to avoid jumping to the obvious solution and instead experiment with other ideas, to see what works. Identify the most practical solution and focus on what you need to do to make that happen. Finally, persuade your customers with a good story and pitch.

5)      Find the right resources

Once people make the decision to be entrepreneurs, there are many resources available to learn how to run a business, such as formal business courses, networking programs, seminars and websites offering guidance for business owners. It's a matter of finding the learning style and setting that work best for you.

6)      It’s never too late to start

Many entrepreneurs started their wildly successful brands after they were comfortably along in their lives. Life experiences bring depth that the most educated young adult, by his or her nature, is less able to forecast and also can give you a unique outlook on your business.

Success is often measured by the destination. However, if you can learn to be patient, and continually improve yourself while enjoying the journey, the trip to every success will be as pleasant as the destination. Improving yourself is always worth the investment!

If you can dream it, you can do it. -- Walt Disney